Princess of Ruin

Aria The day I first met Emery Harlow was an eventful one. The day I met her was the first snow of the season, and so, as was customary, no student in the entirety of the Ektan Academy for Special Abilities was paying attention to their teacher. And for once, the teachers weren't trying to command their class's attention. In the face of the glistening white snow that fell from the sky and coated the entire city in a blanket of pure beauty, everyone was reduced to the child they once were, the one who would shriek in delight at the sight of snow outside and run down the stairs, begging their mother to let them go play. That's why no one was paying attention to Professor McKinnon, who was only making a half-hearted attempt at teaching us about the history of the Trials, an annual competition for gifted students that had taken place since centuries ago, when the headmaster walked into the classroom. Even the professor only noticed him after he cleared his throat loudly. "Headmaster," Professor McKinnon said smoothly, having recovered from the startle far faster than the rest of us. "What can I do for you today?" Headmaster Anderson gave her an amused smile before replying, "I have a new student for you." "Bloody-" The professor paused, composing herself and taking a moment to brush an invisible stray hair out of her face, as though that could be the cause of her distress. "Was that today?" she continued in a far calmer tone. "Considering that today is Wednesday, when I told you I'd be paying you a visit, I'd say yes. Emery, you can come out now," the headmaster called over his shoulder, rumpling his usually-immaculate gray suit. The girl who entered was the cause of more than a few gasps and whispers in awe. She was one of the most beautiful people I'd ever seen, at least at first glance. The girl was built to be tiny and dainty, with arms that looked like twigs under the long sleeves of her grey dress and long, spindly fingers hidden beneath black leather gloves. Her left hand curled around a simple cane made out of dark brown wood, and she was clearly putting less weight on her right leg. But most striking was the girl's skin so pale that I could almost see through it, and her hair, white as the snow outside, fell in thick waves that just barely brushed against her chin. And then there were her eyes, which were such a clear blue that it was almost as though she could see through my soul as she scanned the raked rows of wooden benches and desks. "I'm sorry for the rather pitiful welcome, Emery," Professor McKinnon said, walking over and shaking the girl's free hand. "I suppose I lost track of the days." "Well, I won't intrude upon your class anymore," the headmaster said smoothly, turning on one heel clad in expensive leather and taking his leave. The door shut behind him with a soft click, leaving the room drenched in awkward silence. "I really hate it when that man surprises me. I always feel like he's giving me a look of pure condescension." Professor McKinnon shook her head and turned to the girl called Emery, a smile spreading across her deeply-tanned face. "Why don't you find an empty seat and get yourself settled, Emery?" she said kindly, scanning the room. Her eyes widened when she realized the only empty seat was next to me, and I always sat all the way at the back of the room, which meant that there was a series of steps to climb before reaching my desk. "I'll move," Hayden, a boy who always sat in the front of the class, said quickly. "That way you won't have to go too far." Emery seemed to stiffen at the suggestion, those beautiful eyes of hers narrowing. "No, that's quite alright. I'm fairly certain I can manage a few stairs." Hayden sat back down, and Emery strode across the room, her cane clacking against the floor. Though her gait was uneven, it was confident, and she reached my desk after only a few moments. "Hi there! I'm Aria," I said, scooting myself over on the bench to give my new desk mate more space. Not that it seemed as though she'd take up much at all. "Emery," she murmured, sliding into the seat with surprising ease and leaning her cane against the back wall. After shaking herself once more, Professor McKinnon turned back to her blackboard and began scribbling something, her droning voice drifting straight over my head. I was too busy studying the girl sitting next to me, the one who was now pulling a thick notebook out of her grey canvas messenger back, to pay the lesson any heed. Emery turned and caught my gaze, and her eyes hardened, suddenly suspicious. "Can I do something for you?" she whispered. Up close, I could see that her face and the small sliver of her neck that was exposed were covered in grayish freckles. "No. Sorry." I turned my head away, cheeks burning. I turned my attention back to the lesson, trying desperately to focus once again on the impressively boring lecture we were being given about the Trials. We were already learning plenty about those in Ability Training courses, as they were coming up in only a few months. In the end, my gaze drifted back to the window, and I watched as the snowflakes fell peacefully to the ground, covering it in a beautiful blanket of white. * I was jolted awake suddenly as the bell for the end of class rang, and my head shot back, striking the stone wall. Thankfully, no one noticed, as they were all packing their bags and getting ready to go. As I reached a hand to that back of my head to make sure I wasn't bleeding – which had happened on more than one occasion, unfortunately – I felt something poke my arm, and I looked down to see Emery's gloved finger resting against my coat sleeve. "I was wondering if you could perhaps tell me where this class is located," Emery said, pulling her hand away to move a piece of paper closer to me. I squinted, suddenly wishing that I'd decided to wear my glasses today. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was her class schedule. Right below the History of Gifted was Chemistry, printed in bold block letters. "I can just ask someone else if you don't know." "No, no! I know exactly where that is. Of course I can take you there." "Thank you," Emery said, placing the paper carefully back into her bag and reaching for her cane. With a little exhale, she pushed herself onto her feet and turned, giving me an expectant look. I stood up quickly, snatching my backpack from where it had been resting near my feet. "Shall we?" Emery nodded, and we strode down to the front of the classroom. I nodded at the professor as we walked past, and she gave me a smile before sending another in Emery's direction. I followed the flow of students exiting the classroom, emerging into the finely-carpeted hallway. "Do you need help with that?" I asked as Emery adjusted the messenger bag on her shoulder. "What is it with everyone in this school and offering me assistance?" she huffed indignantly. "Where I come from, I was never offered a helping hand." "Sorry. My mother always taught me to be kind to others." "Truly?" Emery inquired, giving me a sideways look of what almost looked like surprise. "But I must warn you that not everyone who looks weak truly is. Though I may walk rather oddly, I am quite confident that I could knock you down in a few instants." I laughed, and Emery c****d her head to the side in contemplation. "You have a rather nice laugh for someone who was just made fun of." "What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely confused. "This is my stop, yes?" she asked, deflecting the question with surprising skill. "Yes, this is the chemistry lab, but-" "Well, I thank you for your assistance. Perhaps I'll see you again sometime." Before I could process what was happening, Emery was gone, surrounded by the students crowding through the door of the chemistry lab. And I was left all alone in the castle-like stone hallway, kept company only by my confusion. * "I think she takes me for a fool, Mikela," I said to my roommate, shifting myself on our suite's plush couch so that I was lying on my stomach. "I mean, I walked the girl to her class, then she said I have a nice laugh and just left. I don't know what to think of her." My friend sighed, wrapping one of her dark braids around her finger and then letting it go as she looked around the small kitchen for inspiration. "She sounds well-mannered more than anything else. Who knows, but I doubt that she takes you for a fool." "You don't know that," I grumbled, turning my attention back to the algebra homework spread across the dark grey cushion of the couch. Mikela waved her hand dismissively, and an invisible force shut the door of the cupboard where she kept all her tea. "Well, it doesn't sound as though it's just you," she said reassuringly, waving her hand again to turn the stove on. She pushed black braids out of her face and tucked them behind her ear. "I keep hearing stories of the new girl who speaks quietly and like she's from one of those aristocratic families in children's storybooks. The girl's becoming something of a sensation, you know. I hear that her beauty is truly something to behold." "I guess she's not too bad to look at." I glanced up at Mikela, whose dark brow was creased in concentration as she used her ability to lift the teapot filled with boiling water off the stove, when a knock came at the door. "Now who could that be?" I muttered to myself, rolling off the couch and onto my feet. "Maybe it's Flynn. They've always had an uncanny ability to sense when I'm making tea." But I rather doubted it was my twin. Flynn often hung out with their friends in between the end of classes and dinner. It was something our parents constantly berated them for. "What can I-" My voice broke off as I opened the door to reveal Emery, who stood just out in the hall with her cane, messenger bag, and the new addition of a duffel bag. My eyes widened in surprise, and hers did the same as she looked up at me, startled. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I was told this was the room where I'd be taking up residence for the duration my studies here."